Hatteras August 18, 2011
Bill Bickel, of Yardley, PA, with a 40 lb. king mackerel he caught in Ocracoke Inlet after it struck a bucktail while he was flounder fishing. Weighed in at Tradewinds Bait and Tackle.
Eddie, of Hatteras Jack, reports that spot, croaker, and sea mullet continue to dominate the catch for anglers bottom fishing in the surf. Shrimp and bloodworms are attracting the bottomfeeders’ attention.
Good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel are also feeding up and down the beaches, and anglers are hooking them while working small metal lures from the sand. The blue and spanish bite has been particularly good at Cape Point.
Large sharks are also on the feed around Cape Point, and cut baits fished on the bottom are tough for them to resist.
Kathleen, of Rodanthe Pier, reports that spot, sea mullet, pompano, and some spadefish are falling for bottom rigs underneath the pier. Shrimp, bloodworms, and squid are all producing bites.
The evening hours saw some good spanish mackerel fishing for anglers working Gotcha plugs from the pier last week.
Malcolm, of Frank and Fran’s Tackle, reports that surf casters are catching pompano, spot, and croaker on bottom rigs baited with shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas.
Decent numbers of puppy drum have been reported from Avon all the way down to Hatteras. Cut baits and finger mullet will get attention from the pups.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just off the beaches, and anglers are hooking them on metal jigs like Stingsilvers and Shore Lure Glass Minnows, but the best color seems to change by the day.
Shark fishing is still good around Cape Point. Large cut baits are the way to tempt bites from the apex predators.
Jack, of Avon Pier, reports that plug casters have been catching good numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel while working Gotchas from the planks.
Live baiters hooked a 100 lb. class tarpon last week off the end of the pier.
Cameron, of Frisco Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some red drum (slot to 30”+ yearlings). Cut and finger mullet have been getting most of the attention from the reds.
Sea mullet and some pompano are taking an interest in bottom rigs baited with shrimp and sand fleas.
Bluefish and spanish mackerel are feeding along the shore, and anglers are hooking them on small metal lures worked from the beach. The best action has been around Hatteras Inlet, where bluefish blitzes have been a near-nightly occurrence.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that surf anglers continue to catch good numbers of sea mullet and pompano on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and sand fleas. A few puppy drum, flounder, and bluefish are mixed in and also biting cut baits.
Cape Point and Hatteras Inlet have both been producing plenty of action with bluefish and spanish mackerel. They’re falling for small metal casting jigs that anglers are working from the beach.
Speckled trout, flounder, and bluefish are still rewarding anglers fishing in the sound. Gulp baits will tempt bites from all of them
Offshore, the dolphin fishing remains excellent. A few blackfin tuna and sailfish are mixed in with the ‘phins.
Jay, of Bite Me Sportfishing, reports that the last week has featured pleasant weather and good fishing off Hatteras Inlet. Plenty of dolphin are still filling up the fish box. Some are falling for trolled ballyhoo, but anglers are bailing most of the fish on lighter tackle with chunks of cut bait and squid.
A few sailfish, wahoo, and blackfin tuna are also feeding along the break, and trolled ballyhoo are tempting bites from all three.
Alan, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that anglers have found a decent spanish mackerel and bluefish bite while working metal jigs like Stingsilvers and Shore Lures from the beaches. The action has been best in the mornings and evenings.
A few sea mullet and pompano are taking an interest in shrimp and sand fleas on bottom rigs off the beach.
Inshore anglers are reporting solid action with bluefish and spanish mackerel while trolling Clarkspoons.
Some flounder are falling for live baits and Gulps in the sound.
Anglers are also landing some fat (2-3 lbs.) pompano around the inlet shoals on shrimp and sand fleas.
Offshore boats have been reporting some wahoo, dolphin, and blackfin tuna while trolling ballyhoo in the blue water.
